§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his reply of 4 May to the hon. Member for Great Grimsby,Official Report, column 245, whether he will estimate the extent of (a) short-term and (b) long-term damage to aquatic flora and fauna in inland waters and estuaries caused by pollution incidents.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleySpecific information concerning the impact of pollution incidents is not available centrally. Water authorities make their own detailed assessments in individual cases: these are to enable management to ensure that appropriate remedial measures can be carried out. The cumulative impact of all sources of pollution is assessed through routine river quality monitoring, the results of which are published comprehensively in the regular national river quality surveys. The most recent survey was carried out in 1985. In future this work will be carried out by the National Rivers Authority, which will also wish to review monitoring procedures. Work on the next river quality survey will commence in 1990.